XPENG switched on a humanoid production line yesterday. The first IRON walked off it on its own.
The company says more than 80% of the core processes on the line are automated, borrowed from its electric-car plants. Mass production is scheduled for the end of 2026. The first robots go into XPENG's own stores and campuses; deliveries in China and abroad are planned for 2027.
In August the robotics unit raised over $900 million at a valuation above $6.3 billion. XPENG's claim, repeated yesterday: a robot will carry more margin than one of its cars.
For anyone running a plant on SAP or Dynamics: the line that builds the robot is the same automotive-grade line that builds the car. The ERP that schedules it will not know the difference until the maintenance module does.
🎥 Video: XPENG, official YouTube channel, 10 Nov 2025. News: XPENG press release, 7 Sep 2026. Links in the first comment.
Which process in your plant would you hand to a humanoid first: picking, inspection or paperwork?
